Unpacking Digital Rights. Who Really Owns Your Digital Twin?

My Avatar was created for fun purposes during London Tech Week 2025 via AWS Amazon Nova (trusted solution)

I just wrapped up an impactful London Tech Week (stay tuned for my recap article this Sunday and bonus highlights coming next week), but there’s one moment that inspired this article.

On my final day, I decided to finally try one of those interactive tech booth games that had a queue around the booth all week. It was one of those digital prize wheels you spin to win some swag. Classic event fun, and it attracts people to the booth. But before playing, you had to click a checkbox under a digital screen with, surprise, "Terms and Conditions."

I chuckled and asked the staff: “Does anyone even read these anymore?” He smiled and said, “Most don’t. But one person actually read the whole thing before ticking the box.”

The thing is, I should not be chuckling about this at all. When I was younger, I was one of those kids who would read anything and everything when it came to manuals, terms, and conditions, but I didn't live in a digital world. Now, in a world where there are a gazillion boxes to tick before you can move on to the next page, I have fallen for the same mistake many times, not knowing what I am saying yes to.

So, let's reflect here. How often are we giving up our digital rights? And what does it really mean when an app or activation asks for our photo, our likeness, or even lets us “create our digital twin”?

It’s 2025, and suddenly, we’re talking about AI personas, digital clones, and virtual versions of ourselves that could outlive us. Some for business, some for entertainment, others for who-knows-what (not scary, huh?). So, who actually owns these digital versions of us?

What is a Digital Twin or AI Persona in the first place?

A digital twin was originally a term used in engineering or manufacturing, an exact virtual replica of a physical object. Now, it refers to people, too. A digital twin or AI persona is a computer-generated version of you. It could be your face, your voice, your mannerisms, and even your personality traits recreated through machine learning.

Think of those apps that animate your photo or turn you into a cartoon. Or platforms that let you create a talking avatar of yourself. Even smart assistants, like AI agents, are starting to exhibit more human-like traits, traits that we attribute to them.

The leap from digital avatar to AI clone has already happened. The challenge here is that we’re not keeping up with how quickly this shift is impacting our individual rights.

The Ownership Dilemma. You or Them?

When you upload your face, your voice, or a video to an app, you’re often agreeing to terms that allow the company to use your data. Not just for that one experience, but possibly for advertising, training data, or future product development. Think of it like telemarketing. Once someone has your number, it gets passed around like a hot potato.

Most terms and conditions give the company a broad license to use your likeness. In legal speak, that can include reproduction, modification, and distribution. In plain speak? You may have just handed over the rights to your own face. Say what?!

Yes, you heard me correctly; this means your digital twin, your "fun" AI clone, may not be fully yours.

What’s worse, we’re at a point where many users don’t understand what they’ve consented to until it’s too late. We scroll, click, and smile for the camera, not realizing we’ve signed away ownership of our virtual selves. And once again, I did this a few times during London Tech Week. Ops!

The Consequences. When Things Go Wrong

During London Tech Week, I spoke with a fellow leader who shared a head-shaking story. She had worked as a presenter for a brand and had recorded a few videos, which was not unusual. Then she discovered they had taken her image and recreated her in AI-generated video content without her knowledge. No permission. No heads-up. No pay.

That’s both unethical and dangerous.

We’re entering a world where the line between what’s real and what’s replicated is so blurred that misrepresentation can happen at lightning speed. Imagine seeing yourself endorse a product you’ve never heard of. Or, what is worse, speak words you never said. It’s reality. And it’s happening faster than our regulations can catch up.

How Do We Protect Ourselves?

First, as always, is awareness. Read the fine print, yes, really. Even if it’s just skimming the permissions section.

Second, demand transparency. Companies need to make it crystal clear what they’re doing with your image, your voice, and your data.

Third, support the legislation. Digital rights need to evolve with technology. Just as we have copyright laws for content and trademarks for brands, we need specific, enforceable laws governing digital identity.

Countries like the UK are beginning to explore frameworks around digital rights. The U.S. and China are also in motion, but their approaches vary. The EU is leading the way with regulatory momentum through its AI Act, which I have previously discussed, but we need more coordinated global action.

What’s Next for Digital Identity?

Our current situation should serve as a wake-up call for everyone. These days, our digital identities are precious resources. They bear our voice, our identity, and our power. We have to treat them with the same deference that we show to our physical selves.

While having a digital identity is essential, what about digital rights? They are human rights. We run the risk of losing control over our virtual selves if we don't begin asking these difficult questions right away.

Final Thoughts

As the saying goes, inspiration is a spark, and action is the fire.

We are living in a time where we can shape how digital rights evolve for us and for generations to come.

So, the next time you upload a selfie to try a fun filter or click ‘accept’ on an AI app, ask yourself, am I the owner of my digital twin or just the donor?

It's time to regain authority over our online persona. Because someone else will own our digital identities if we don't. Let's take the lead in this discussion. Let's establish the limits. Above all, let's safeguard our digital future.

We are the forerunners of a brand-new era full of opportunities. It's thrilling as well as frightening. Let's continue the journey of discovery in a safe manner.